Space Coast Public Service Awards Recognizes Robert Waller With Lifetime Achievement Award

SPACE COAST PSA HALL OF FAME NOMINEE

During a 32 year career, FBI Special Agent Robert Waller, pictured above center with Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, right, and his son, BCSO Chief Deputy Doug Waller, was assigned to FBI Headquarters Washington, DC, Kansas City, Newark, Camden and Cocoa. For 20 years following FBI retirement, Waller continued his service providing executive/professional support, investigations and consulting to major corporations, federal government agencies, employment and security backgrounds and special investigations in connection with diplomatic security. In 2004, he was sworn in by Sheriff Jack Parker as a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Board and proudly served the agency’s employees until 2013. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: In every community there are great men and women who have, by their strength of will and character, become ingrained in the consciousness of our society. They are doers and risk takers who have made a stand and a commitment for the common-good. They are labeled as public servants, but they are truly our natural leaders whose legacies are the milestones of our progress.

BCSO Chief Deputy Doug Waller

The Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes public service professionals who have dedicated years of service during a distinguished career where they significantly advanced the public safety or service profession, and by substantial service, has furthered the cause of justice and the mission of community service. The award is presented to a deserving individual (living or deceased) who has taken a long-term leadership role in a public or community service profession. Recipients of this award are recognized for making extraordinary contributions and sacrifices through a body of work that positively impacted their organization and community over their lifetime.

The first annual Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction will be held Saturday, September 24 at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this compelling event where all proceeds will benefit the Brevard County Public Safety Charity, a not-for-profit organization that was created to help Brevard County Public Safety Officers and their families during difficult hardships. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

FBI SPECIAL AGENT ROBERT WALLER AWARDED NASA EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE MEDAL

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Retired FBI Special Agent Robert H. Waller began his service with the Maryland National Guard in 1954 at the age of 17. In 1956, Waller was hired by the FBI and moved from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Washington, DC.

For 20 years following FBI retirement, Waller continued his service providing executive/professional support, investigations and consulting to major corporations, federal government agencies, employment and security backgrounds and special investigations in connection with diplomatic security.

In 2004, he was sworn in by Sheriff Jack Parker as a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Board and proudly served the agency’s employees until 2013.

Waller is an active member and has held leadership positions with the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. He received numerous FBI commendations for exemplary performance during his career, and his work history assignments included FBI Headquarters, Senior Management Aid, Security Support and government agency inquiries.

Robert and Barbara Waller meet with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, center, in 1963. During his 32-year FBI career, Waller was assigned to the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, and FBI offices in Kansas City, Newark, Camden and Cocoa. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

In connection with a complex government contract fraud investigation conducted with the NASA OIG on the Space Shuttle Program, the Director of the FBI met with Waller at KSC, and the NASA Administrator presented Special Agent Waller with the “NASA Exceptional Service Medal” in WDC.

The U.S. Department of Justice commended Waller for his outstanding accomplishments. He was a guest instructor at the FBI Academy in connection with complex government contract fraud investigations.

As a proud public servant for 59 years, Waller has truly earned the right to relax and enjoy a community that he so proudly served and protected. His extraordinary contributions and sacrifices truly impacted the lives of our citizens and the development of future generations of public servants.

FBI Special Agent Robert Waller, right, working a bank robbery investigation in Camden NJ in the late 1970s. His FBI field investigations involved many types of federal criminal violations, including Government Contract Fraud, White Collar Crimes, Extortion, Violent Crimes, Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

FBI Special Agent Robert Waller works a case during an assignment to the Kansas City office in 1964. During his 32-year FBI career, Waller also has assignments to the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, and FBI offices Newark, Camden and Cocoa. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

FBI Special Agent Robert Waller, left, and then Vice President Richard Nixon during a security detail at Nixon’s birthday in 1958 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

FBI Special Agents Olin Jessup, left, and Robert Waller, right, take into custody FBI’s Top 10 most wanted bank robber John Shannon in Camden NJ in June 1968. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

Bob and Barbara Waller have been married 54 years. As a proud public servant for 59 years, Bob has truly earned the right to relax and enjoy a community that he so proudly served and protected. His extraordinary contributions and sacrifices truly impacted the lives of our citizens and the development of future generations of public servants. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Space Coast Daily is very proud to sponsor and produce the first annual Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction, which will be held Saturday, September 24 at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. With all the seemingly endless politically-charged negative rhetoric in the media aimed at our first responders, we felt it was time as a media entity to make a statement and give these men and women the respect and support they deserve. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this compelling event where all proceeds will benefit the Brevard County Public Safety Charity.

Tom Palermo

Seating for this celebration of these outstanding public servants is now available, so don’t delay in making your reservation. The festivities will include a meet-and-greet with our outstanding public servants, food and drink, and the induction proceeding – which will feature compelling video tributes.

All proceeds of this event will go to the Brevard County Public Safety Charity which benefits our law enforcement officers and firefighters in their time of need. These funds will help our public safety members when they face critical challenges such as medical emergencies, long term illness or even the tragedy of a line of duty death. This charity organization is designed to help protect those that protect us.

For additional information about the Brevard County Public Safety Charity, please contact Sue Parker at Sue.Parker@BCSO.us.

– Tom Palermo, Space Coast Daily President & Publisher

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Space Coast Public Service Awards and Hall of Fame Induction, call 321-615-8111 or 321-323-4460.